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In the Pool With the Queen

By

Ralph Gardner Jr.

Updated July 8, 2010 12:01 a.m. ET

When I applied to cover Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the British Garden at Hanover Square on Tuesday, the final stop on a whirlwind tour that included an address to the United Nations and laying a wreath at the World Trade Center site, the organizers asked me whether I'd be the pool reporter for the event. I was frankly flabbergasted and more than slightly terrified.

Others may strenuously disagree, but I basically consider myself a humor writer. If nothing else, a feature writer. For those who are unfamiliar with the...